JavaJ - Italian Espresso Bar

JavaJ in Roseville closed on Nov. 1st. Stay tuned for more information on our new shop in San Francisco.

-J. & Jen

Thank you and Good Night.

Friends, Family, and Krew,

For many, it will be called an "end of an era" and "the beginning of a new paradigm." But enough about the financial markets, let's talk about JavaJ. Well, maybe we have some things in common with the economy.

I know that the recession, regardless of what some central bankers and politicians choose to call it, has affected all of you. We know, because we have shared a cup of coffee with you as you shared your stories about how you lost your job, or maybe your car, or worse, your house. We know because every day at JavaJ is what the English used to call the "Penny University" where discussions on the economy, job market, stock market, and the recession are passionately debated. It is a very large part of why Jen and I got into this business.

But unfortunately, we know because we haven't seen much of some of you lately. We know, because sales are down, and they keep going down. Sure, there are other issues. The hours. The roadwork on Cirby. The weather. But let's be honest, the economy sucks, and all of us, Jen and I included, just aren't opening our pocketbooks the way we used to. How can we, when the future is so uncertain and today is scary enough.

So it is with great regret, that we announce that JavaJ in Roseville will be closing. When Jen and I moved to The City, the shop had been breaking even, the economy was stressed but not quite faltering, and we thought we could keep the shop open while we opened our second location in San Francisco, where we knew we would reach a wider audience of enlightened coffee drinkers. Unfortunately, we have had several setbacks along the way. I won't get too much into them, other than to say we have been extremely stretched financially, and we have no choice but to close the doors.

As for the SF location, we have put our plans on hold, largely because of the recession. We don't know for how long, but at the bare minimum, we are postponing things at least six months. It will happen, however. Jen and I are not the type of people who give up. No, we bounce back, we try again, and we make things happen.

Our last day open will be Nov. 1. We will be in the shop all day, and look forward to seeing you and saying thank you for your patronage and support. I just want you to all know how much we enjoyed your company. You are Roseville's best and brightest. And we're not just saying that because you have good taste in coffee.

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers. But truly, I am at peace with this. This isn't the end, it's just a new beginning.

Warmest Regards,

JavaJ and Jen

Friday, June 27th. Mark you calendar! The biggest JavaJ party in the world ever! EVER!

NOT ONLY are we bringing music back on fridays. NOT ONLY are we bringing back the JavaJ Grand Cru Coffee. NOT ONLY are we bringing R. Miguel Cofee. WE ARE BRINGING R. MIGUEL.

As in Miguel Meza. As in meet the winemaker, except that it's not wine, it's coffee, and Miguel isn't a winemaker, he's the roastmaster. But you get the idea.

And what fine goodies is Miguel bringing us? Well, in addition to goodies from the afformentioned Hawaiin Ka'u coffee farms...monkey spit.

Yeah, no, that's not a typo. As in "monkey parchment" coffee. Unlike the Kopi Luwak (weasle poop coffee, in laymans terms) that the media seems so obsessed with, monkey parchment has been validated by real coffee experts. People who I respect, like Instaurator, Vince Picolo, and of course, Miguel have vouched for this unique coffee and deemed it a true delicacy. If you're still sceptical, well, all the more reason to come check it out!

At any rate, come for the music and fun. The party is free and open to the public. The tasting is free to watch, but you really want to throw down the $20 for the coffee flight. The coffees will be prepared on a vaccum pot, otherwise known as a siphon brewer. All R. Miguel coffees will also be available for purchase. Hope to see you there!

The Grand Cru drought is over!

JavaJ is very pleased...Ecstatic even...to offer our latest Grand Cru coffee, R. Miguel Pele!

This is one of the most exciting coffees we have ever offered. (Yes, up there with La Esmeralda). This Hawaiian coffee is probably the truest expression of Terroir I have ever tasted in a cup of coffee. In addition to turning out in the cup the luscious fruit, sugarcane, and floral notes found on the island, this strain is completely unique to Hawaii.

Roastmaster R. Miguel Meza, started R. Miguel as a side project to highlight the most outstanding coffees he was encountering while at Paradise Roasters. Simply put, R. Miguel ONLY features the absolute best of the best.

JavaJ is the EXCLUSIVE purveyor of R. Miguel Coffee in the Sacramento Region.

A little more about the coffee from R. Miguel:

Ka'u is a region on the south side of the big island of Hawaii. This region has very good altitude for Hawaii on average around 2000 ft. and is a cooler, wetter enivroment than nearby Kona. Only a short distance from the Kiluea Volcano the region also has different soil than Kona and often receives 'Vog' -morning fog mixed with volcanic ash. This region may also contain a unique varietal.

Will Tabios and a handful of others have planted coffee from old trees growing nearby. Coffee was brought to this region late in the 19th century by an Australian ship captain several decades before coffee was ever planted in Kona. While its presumed to be typica it may be of a different heritage than the Typica brought to Kona from Guatemala. Whether it is the varietal or the unique micro-climate, something is special about Ka'u. Last year coffees from Ka'u took 6th and 9th out of over 100 entries from around the world in the SCAA cupping pavilion.

Will Tabios washed process coffee placed the highest last year and was among the most beautiful and distinctive cups of 2007. We asked will to do some processing experiments for for us, hoping we could craft an even better coffee from this region. In late January of 2008 the first trials of screen-dried natural and pulped natural process coffees were completed. It was clear right away that the natural process in particular showed a lot of promise. The first production lot of coffees were produced in April for us from the Ka'u Typica using only fully ripe cherry which was carefully dried on raised screens and raked constantly to avoid fermentation and mold. The results of months of experiments and process refining is our 'Pele'.

This is the first JavaJ Grand Cru selection in 5 months. We waited this long for something this good to come along.

We are currently taking orders for this rare and unique coffee. It is priced at $50 1/2 Lb, with a 1 Lb. limit per customer. (We would love to sell you more, really, but supply is very limited). If you would like to reserve some, call and leave a message. 916-781-5498

-J.

Well, so much for blogging. SCAA was off the hook. I can't even tell you. Cuz you don't know. And I can't tell you. Cuz you don't know.

Back two weeks now, and we all have coffee fever! Went on a trip to Verve in Santa Cruz. Hung out with Jared and Sean and Kolby. Bought some Street Level and Sermon espresso. We'll be rockin' that at the shop today. They also hooked it up with a little Ethiopian Harrar and an interesting Sumatra Blue Batak Peaberry. We've been pulling SOs with those and they are pretty good. People around here almost forgot what a Ethiopian natural tastes like, so it is a good precursor to new crop.

Speaking of, in case you haven't already been hearing this all year, new crop Ethiopians, especially naturals, are supposed to be OFF THE CHARTS this year. You don't even know. I'd tell you, but I don't even know. If only they can get here. Soon.....